The Portland daily press., 1887-03-03
The Soldiers Monument.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The gentlemen who favor tearing down
Old City Hall and erecting the Soldiers
Monument on that spot lay great stress on
the fact that the monuments in London are
placed in public squares. This is not alto
gether true, as many monuments are placed
in the largest and finest parks, and in sever
al instances the squares" like Trafalgar
Square, where a monument to Nelson was
erected at cost Of $1,000 pounds, about
S325,0OO, are really enclosed parks of con-
siderable extent, including walks, grass
plats, urns, flower beds, and think in the
case of Trafalgar Square, a fountain also.
1t is true that like the monument on Fish
Hill, many of the London monuments occu-
Ply open, public unenelosed, busy. noisy and
often filthy locations, and,this is perhaps one
OF the strongest reasons why we should not
copy after London, simply because lit is
quite English, you know" Where many of
the London monuments were erected no
doubt cleanly. respectable, and possibly,
quiet locations were sought; but rapid
growth and the changes which occur every
few years in all cities, make what would
seem desirable site today, extremely OBJ
jectionable few years hence. A large pub
lie park like THAT of behring's Oaks can
never be open to this objection. think well
of the suggestion of having the names of
different sites printed and let each one vote
for his choice, as he would for favorite can
didate. w.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Permit me short space in your valued
and crowded columns in which to suggest a
site for the Soldiers Monument, and we do
not wish to be accused of lack of patriotism
or generation for the memory Of the brave
boys who died on land and sea, that our
country's flag might float unsullied, when we
say we are opposed to Market Square as the
site of the Soldiers Monument. Our mind
goes back to that April day in 81 when the
news was flashed over the wires that Sum-
ter had fallen, and it is fresh in the memory
of many, with what zeal the sons Of the For
est City sprang to arms in response to their
country's call. Their deeds of valor are
known and read of all men, and form an inn
portant part OF their country's history. And
It is fitting that there should be erected in
this lair city by the sea, monument to COM
memorate the noble deeds of her brave sons
who sleep on southern soil, and the gallant
veterans who now survive; and it is also en-
eminently fitting that it shall stand upon a
site worthy of the city and the object it is de-
signed to commemorate. What better place
then, can be found than Lincoln Park, CEN
trally located, in the very heart of the city,
anu SulIOuuueu WIN DeauIllul trees, easy oil
access alike to the rich and the poor, it
would be comparatively safe from fires, and
IN full view from the principal thoroughfare,
Congress Street.
In contrast with Market square aside from
the matter of income which the city can i'll
afford to lose by the removal of the Old City
Hall building) the site of Lincoln Park is i'm
measurably superior. We venture the asser-
ton that this site for the proposed monu-
ment would be as satisfactory to the MAORI
ity Of the Grand Army veterans as Market
square and far more satisfactory to the tax
payers of Portland We acknowledge the
debt of obligation we owe to the memory of
these brave defenders of our flag but we fail
to see why that debt cannot be as fully and
honorably discharged without the sacrifice
of the Old City Hall building as with it. We
are aware that every protest against the re-
moval of the building in question will be
met by the cry of "Old Fogy'' and that the
remonstrants who protest against its re-
moval will be accused of being lacking in
public spirit and progress, but we are con-
strained to believe that when it comes to a
ballot large majority will register their
vote to the effect that the old historic build
ing known as the Old City Hall shall stand.
L. III. NJ.